Monocacy Scenic River Board Revises Draft River Management Plan
On Wednesday, February 1, 2017, the Monocacy Scenic River Board met to consider public comments received by the close of the public comment period (January 31, 2017) on their Draft Monocacy River Management Plan. The volunteer board of citizens from Carroll and Frederick Counties have been working to revise a plan originally approved in the 1990’s.
Since the original plan was developed, the Town of Walkersville and the City of Frederick have grown to the banks of the Monocacy River. As a result, they will receive copies of the Board’s recommendations in the form of the Monocacy River Management Plan.
In anticipation of this new plan coming before the Planning Commission of Walkersville, the members of the Planning Commission invited a representative from Frederick County to provide information and answer questions during their public hearing in January. Over sixty-five members of the public attended the meeting. After hearing a presentation, the Planning Commission members asked questions about the draft plan.
Following the members’ questions, the attending public were invited to make comments and ask questions. Most speakers were not residents of the Town of Walkersville and exceeded the three minute time limit imposed by the chair of the Planning Commission. The majority of the speakers vehemently opposed the draft and accused the county of trying to take their land through “regulatory taking.”
Despite reminders that the information presented was a draft plan, not a county regulation, but a set of proposals based upon the citizen board’s review of information, Planning Commission member John Zimmerman moved to reject the plan. No other members of the Planning Commission seconded the motion. Members did not wish to vote against a draft, but wanted to wait for a final proposed plan. The Planning Commission voted to send all the comments from the public and the Planning Commission to the Monocacy Scenic River Board for its consideration in revising its draft plan.
The following evening, Town Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, wife of Planning Commission member John Zimmerman, made a motion to reject the plan. The Town Commissioners voted 4 – 1 to reject the plan. Commissioner Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis cast the lone nay vote.
During its meeting last week, the Scenic River Board agreed to eliminate the Monocacy River Resource Protection Area (MRRPA) from further consideration. The Scenic River Board also pledged to conduct another round of public review once a revised Draft Plan is released, expected in the next few months.
Once finally approved by the Scenic River Board, the Plan is to be forwarded to local officials in both Frederick and Carroll Counties, and the City of Frederick and Town of Walkersville, for further consideration.
Reviews of the Monocacy River Management Plan by Frederick and Carroll Counties will be conducted in public sessions and will provide additional opportunities for public comment.
Refer to the Monocacy River Management Plan web page for information on subsequent public meetings regarding the Plan: https://frederickcountymd.gov/194/Monocacy-Scenic-River-Citizens-Board.
